Battling a giant flying shark in outer space? It can only be the Doctor Who Christmas special

Every Christmas, viewers are treated to a host of festive specials to make the special period even more exciting.

And this year is no different, as the Doctor Who Christmas special promises to be among the most anticipated programmes this season.

From writer Stephen Moffat, the episode sees the Doctor (Matt Smith) battle with a flying shark as he desperately tries
to stop a ship carrying 4,000 people, including newlyweds Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory, from crashing to Earth.

Scroll down to watch the trailer

In the festive mood: Michael Gambon, Matt Smith and Katherine Jenkins in the Doctor Who Christmas special

The episode, based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, also stars veteran actor Michael Gambon as Kazran Sardick, a rich but lonely Scrooge character who controls the skies.

It also marks the acting debut of Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins, who stars as Abigail Pettigrew, a character who has been frozen in an ice chamber by Sardick because her family cannot pay
their debts.

It is then up to The Doctor to try and save the day by using his ability to travel back in time to Sardick's childhood and find out exactly how to make him use his ability to guide the ship safely back to earth.

Let it snow! The characters look delighted as it begins to snow just in time for Christmas

Getting on famously: The episode will also see Jenkins make use of her famous voice

Speaking about the episode, which is set on Christmas Eve, Jenkins said it will make emotional viewing for all the family.

She said: 'I hope that people will also be moved by it and can relate to it.

'I didn't set out to make people cry over their Christmas dinner but it is heart-warming.'

Stunning: The episode marks Jenkins' acting debut

And Jenkins will be joining the emotional viewers, as she admits she will need a 'large glass of wine' to settle her nerves as she watches her small screen acting debut.

She said: 'I haven't had any training and I've not really had any experience of this kind of thing.

'But everyone in the whole Doctor Who team was brilliant and so
encouraging and supportive that they made me feel like I could do it.

'By the end I had a ball and I think that has now opened my mind to
thinking if the right thing came along maybe I would like to do it
again.'

Smith also said he was satisfied with his first series as The Doctor, but thinks there is room for improvement.

Speaking at a preview screening at London's BFI Southbank, he said: 'I have been very pleased and proud of the people I have worked with and alongside. I think we achieved something - I don't know what that is - I hope people have enjoyed it.

'I think we're going to get better. I think we know the areas we can improve and the ways in which we want to improve.

'It's been a learning curve. A very brilliant and informative journey for me professionally and personally. It's something I shall not forget.'

The Doctor Who Christmas special will be shown on BBC One at 6pm on Christmas Day.

Preparations: Karen Gillan, Matt Smith and Katherine Jenkins attend a preview screening for the Doctor Who Christmas Special along with pupils from St Stephen's School in Shepherds Bush